Hi everyone
I’m SO thrilled you got to see Elizabeth’s Barbie dollhouse. Wasn’t that just the greatest house you’ve ever seen? My cardboard Barbie Dreamhouse didn’t hold a candle to all the details in Elizabeth’s house.
I had a busy day but did find a little time to do some “assembly line sewing!”
I am determined to get some slips made for Valentine’s Day and Easter! If I don’t start on them a little at a time, they won’t happen!
Here are 4 Little Darling slips started…and almost finished. I have some Ruby Red Fashion Friends slips started too!
Well, I know this isn’t much… but that was my day!
What did YOU do today?
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m so glad you got a chance to do some sewing today, Jeanne. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be a huge project to be satisfying! Just a little time in the sewing room can be a big deal.
You asked what we were doing. Well:
1–I printed off the class schedule for our annual Sewing Expo (sewexpo.com) and have started looking thru it. I only go for two of the four days now, and try to limit classes to 1 or 2 per day so I have time to shop! (I’ve had my hotel reservations for at least 2-3 months now. I’ve been attending since 1996.)
2–I chose and ironed fabrics (from my stash of “scraps”) for some mug rugs I’ll make for my friends I meet at IHOP every week. Yeah, I’m going to get six of them done by Thursday…..🙄
3–I started knitting a baby sweater. This one has lacy areas up the fronts and down the sleeves. I do enjoy pattern knitting, but it does take some concentration to make sure you don’t get “off”! I’m not too fond of “un-knitting”!! Haha….
That was my day!
My goodness, Charlotte, you are a busy bee. I love hearing about all you are up to, and knowing that you are well! I hope you will send photos of you Sewing Expo, wish i could be there!
Thank you, Sissy. I will try to remember to send pictures. It goes from Feb. 27 to March 2 this year (always the 9th weekend), and I will only be there Thursday and Friday, and then drive home on Saturday. I usually do take pictures, so will try to remember to send some to Jeanne when the time comes!
Hi Charlotte,
I am familiar with mug rugs, having made sets of them for my daughters and my most recent set was for my Granddaughter in college….printed with snack foods on a black background! Have you seen the small book titled Mug Rugs by Christa Rolf…part of the Love to Sew series of books? Lots of wonderful designs with templates to copy and lots of photos. I purchased my book several years ago at Jo-Ann’s Fabric’s, and Better World Books has a copy in their used books for $7.14. I noticed other mug rug titles of which they don’t have copies of all of them but at least with the titles I can see if Thriftbooks has any. You’ve peaked my interest in making mug rugs again….such a fun project that doesn’t take hours and makes a great gift!
Thank you, Elizabeth. No, I’m not familiar with the books. I am adapting a pattern that came with my Christmas 2022 box from Missouri Star quilt; each block is a mug! I have simplified the mug part (original was either 9-patch or pieced stripes for the mug body) so I’m hoping to get them sewn and quilted Quickly!! Haha!! I have all but the backgrounds for them cut now. Once I get to sewing, it should go faster. The cutting–even with a rotary cutter–gets a little tedious.
Your slips are so pretty, Jeanne, and I am proud to say that I have several of them! It looks like you enjoyed your day!
As for me, nothing much out of the ordinary for a Monday. I did some wash, and vacuumed the entire basement where we have our family room, and spent a lot of the time on Christmas Day. Then, I finally got all the Christmas dishes put away and packed in their boxes on the shelf in the laundry room.
I also cleaned out the refrigerator from all the Christmas leftovers, made sure the pantry was straightened up and put a pork tenderloin in the crockpot for supper. I also managed to watch several shows I recorded when I had the time to watch.
In the evening, I decided to dress the 40’s girls for their New Year’s Eve Party, since they were still in their Christmas outfits.
So that was my day!
Linda, looking forward to seeing you photos of your New Years outfits! I will be making a pork tenderloin tomorrow. In the South it is usual to make blackeye peas, rice, collards and pork on New Years day. My hubs will be trading out the every day dishes for the Christmas ones today.
Happy New Year and let’s hope 2025 is good to us All! To answer some questions that were asked of me when I shared the Christmas pictures. My piano is not a player piano(that would be fun) I do not play piano. I am thankful I have my sewing as my husband passed the day after Thanksgiving ( We had been married 69 years) so it is rather quiet around here. I still had Christmas here at the farm with 16 attending, 5 were sick with the bug! I will get back in the sewing room but there is a lot to do when someone passes. Take Care and have a Good Day!
Oh Sylvia,
I sm SO sorry to hear of your husband’s passing. What you must be dealing with sounds awful… and then to go through Christmas almost immediately. I’m glad you had family surrounding you.
I will be keeping you close to my heart and praying for you as you navigate through all the necessary things that have to be done.
May the Lod bless you with comfort and loving care.
I love you, Jeanne
Oh, Sylvia, married 69 years, how very amazing. I know you must feel the loss every day, God bless and keep you. I am so glad you had family for Christmas, I hope you didn’t get the bug! Wishes for a happy and healthy New Year.
Sylvia, please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your dear husband. Sixty-nine years is a long time with a person, and it must be very hard to lose him during the holidays when everyone is celebrating. You did a wonderful thing in having a big Christmas for your family, and I am sure they appreciated it very much. What a treasure you are for them! Please take care of yourself!
So very sorry to hear of the death of your husband. What a trooper you were to have the family or most of it, for a traditional Christmas celebration. Good for you. Please give yourself a break occasionally from all that you need to do. My thoughts are with you and family.
I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s passing, Sylvia. There is a lot to do. I will be praying for everything to be straightforward and go smoothly.
Sylvia I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Sixty nine years is a remarkable time to be married. I am encouraged to hear of sewing hobby to keep you busy. And the family that graced your holiday table.
Sylvia I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband. I had no idea you were married 69 years. How wonderful! Losing someone during the holidays can be so difficult but having family around and keeping with tradition can be helpful. When my grandfather passed away in DE I as living in Texas. I told my mother I couldn’t afford two trips and I would rather come in the summer months after his passing because my grandmother would have everyone around her then but by summer all would be back to normal for everyone but her. I was right. My coming six months after his death meant so much to my grandmother that I knew I made the right choice. So glad you have your sewing to fill some of your time and hope all goes well with settling things.
Dear Sylvia, I’m so very sorry to hear of your loss of your dear husband. 69 years is an incredible marriage milestone. I do hope that you have family nearby that can be of help to you. I’m glad you had family surrounding you at Christmastime. I will be praying for the Lord’s peace and comfort for you.
So sorry to hear about losing your husband. God Bless you and all your family. Be thankful for wonderful memories.
Dear Sylvia, My deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband. You were so fortunate to have 69 years together! This will be quite an adjustment for you. As my neighbor told me when I first lost my Ron in August, “Sometimes you just have to take it 5 minutes at a time”, and she was right. Sometimes you do. I will be holding you up in prayer as you go thru this time of adjustment and sadness. Hugs.
excellent sewing slips, jeanne
Well done to get those accomplished. I always try to be doing something because that is just the way I am- and with a bit of adhd added on top.
Yesterday I delivered two gifts that the neighbors are now home and a quick chat with each. It was 55º here and breezy and dampish.
I came home, did laundry and other chores the usual daily stuff, i treadmilled for two miles while doing puzzles (I built a desk onto the treadmill so the laptop sits securely on the side). I got out our new wall calendar and started working on “decorating that.
It is a large desk calendar, it is easy to read and hubbs has glaucoma so he can see it better. I always decorate the pages with drawings or cut outs from Marjolein Bastin previous calendars. I did some sewing! I cleaned up all of the doll clothes making supplies, I will make more later, I worked on my Monet quilt top. Look on instagram
it is the quilt designed by Jodi.
We watched an old movie from the 70s called The Day of the Jackal, british movie, pretty good for olden times. Then we watched one episode of a new series which is “sci fi” (hubbs and I are new to sci fi but spurred on by my son in law) this show is called Silo. – then, we put the kitties in their own rooms (they are cornish rex, we love them so much). Miles is 15 and so so sweet but needs alone time so he has a whole bedroom to himself and several dishes of water and his snacks and an oil heater. Princess is 6 and she is still a wild monkey and can be a pest, so she has her own paradise room too with the same luxuries. We do not put up much for Christmas decorations anymore because.. cats, but I still have the lights on the door and bushes and those stay up until epiphany.
Happy New Year everyone. I pray this is a good strong year for everyone.
Here is some funny advice I read: If you go to a gym, do not go tomorrow, it will be crowded.
What a whirlwind of accomplishments. I can’t believe that you do puzzles while on the treadmill. Amazing. And your kitties each have their own rooms. 🙂
We love Silo! We’re waiting for all of the second season to be released before we start it.
Here is another good one found on Jenna McCarthy’s blog:
“Cheers to a promising new year
filled with better days, bottomless hope, lots of laughs,
and minimal bad decisions.”
No pork tenderloin here. I’ve never made one and have no idea how. But, I think we’ll be having Mac and Cheese, if we make it to Trader Joe’s to pick up the Asiago cheese we like. Of course, I add bacon and cheddar as well. If that fails, we’ll pick up a pizza.
It’s very chilly here this morning. Not even 40 yet. I covered the plants last night, so hope that they survived the cold.
Great slips Jeanne. Good idea to plan ahead too.
Hope everyone has a happy New Year. 🙂
You do such nice work, Jeanne. I love how tidy and even everything is on your slips. : )
I exercised (DVD in the living room), brushed the cat (She throws herself on the floor where I’m exercising. I push pause and brush and pet her until she’s satisfied, and then I can resume my workout.), practiced the piano, went to the bank and Trader Joe’s, cleaned the floors, did some laundry, and watched some YouTube tutorials of people painting dolls. Maybe someday I will move beyond watching others. (If only there were a time of year when people were encouraged to publicly state their intentions to start something new. Haha! ; ))
Happy New Year, everyone!
Jeanne….Love the assembly line of slips! I often make two sets of a Ruby Red doll outfit so one can displayed on my doll and later go to a Granddaughter’s daughter someday and I keep a set clean in a large zip-lock baggie, hoping I might one day be able to sell on an Etsy site so I can make a little income to help with my retirement budget. I’m still reading about the ins and outs of how Etsy works. Had some health issues to deal with this year but am hopeful to have the time to devote to making this a reality this new year.
I love the “netting” fabric you use on your slips…it looks soft. I only have regular netting that might be good for ballet outfits or witch outfits, but not slips. And yours has a pretty design! I make my doll slips from thin, white cottons and usually do add a bow, and maybe a narrow lace edging at the hem. I do make the “drop” gathered piece too, so dresses aren’t so flared out from the waistline!
You read my mind Jeanne! I added two new to me RRFF to my collection in December and their dresses are flat. I looked at them and said “you need a slip”. I will be watching for them when you finish.
The usual cleaning up around here but I am still looking at two fully decorated trees. I warned Rick that this was the last year for the 7 1/2 ft. tree. We should not be on ladders decorating the top of a tree. I will look for a tree that we can reach while standing firmly on the ground.
Like Sissy we do the traditional southern New Year’s meal for health, wealth, and luck.
Fortunately we have leftover ham from Christmas so I will prepare the cabbage, cornbread, and black eyed peas.
Happy New Year to all!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone!!
Typical day here of laundry, cleaning, cooking, kitty care etc. I had to run to ACE to buy bird seed so the birds had some food and the kitties could be well entertained sitting at the window watching them as well as the squirrels who either hang by their tails on the branch and reach over to the feeder or even better sprawl across the top of it and reach down.
The slips look great, Jeanne. I enjoy that lovely cream lace AG one I won in a giveaway some years back. Still hoping we see an outfit “Year in Review”.
I’m glad I’m not too late to wish you and everyone a happy, healthy, and productive New Year.
Jeanne, I hope you’ve stocked up on that point d’esprit fabric you use for the slips. For the life of me I cannot find it. My local JoAnn’s doesn’t carry it, and they don’t have it online either. I can’t imagine why – seems like it would be a “staple-type” fabric. Amazon doesn’t seem to carry it either. I don’t know where else to look. I wanted to make one of your slips for my granddaughter’s WW for her birthday, but couldn’t find any ANYWHERE!! I MIGHT have some in my stash. . . . . . . . . .somewhere. Happy New Year everyone!!
Have you tried Hobby Lobby? Their fabric dept. sometimes carries things like that.
Yes, I found some at Hobby Lobby that comes on a spool. it doesn’t come the way fabric does on a bolt.
Thanks Charlotte and Linda, I’ll try them.